The Indies First Campaign

Indies First is a year-round campaign in support of independent bookstores by authors, publishers, and readers.

Indies First Fall 2014 Highlights

Bestselling author Neil Gaiman and musician-author Amanda Palmer encouraged their fellow authors to join the campaign, to link to indies for book sales and to use social media to promote their ongoing support, in addition to volunteering as booksellers on Small Business Saturday (the Saturday after Thanksgiving).

Small Business Saturday 2014 for Bookstores and Authors

Booksellers

Contact a favorite local author or illustrator to come to the store on Small Business Saturday. (The store might also be contacted directly by an author or illustrator; any arrangements with them are yours to make or not.) Stores that don't know or have an author nearby can consult the Indies First Author and Illustrator Index for a list of who would love to participate, and then reach out directly.

Promote, publicize, and photograph! Use store marketing newsletters, websites, and social media outlets (#IndiesFirst) to further the Indies First message and highlight your event. Encourage your visiting authors/illustrators to do the same.

Authors and Illustrators

Please join the Indies First Authors and Illustrators Registry by completing this form. Names will remain in the Registry for all future Indies First activities. If you're friends with your local indie then contact them directly and volunteer to come to the store, or find a store local to where you will be on Small Business Saturday.

Link to an independent bookstore for the online sale of your books. Ask your local store if it has an affiliate or linking program and how you can join. Or link to IndieBound.org and tap into a national network of e-commerce sites.

Use your social media outlets and tell your readers about #indiesfirst, @indiesfirst.

Promote, publicize, and photograph! Use store marketing newsletters, websites, and social media outlets (#indiesfirst) to further the Indies First message and highlight your Upstream partnership. Encourage your Upstream author to do the same, and to link to your store from their website.

Please join the Indies First Authors and Illustrators Activity Registry by completing this form. Names will remain in the Registry for all future Indies First activities. If you're friends with your local indie then contact them directly about being an Upstream partner. There are no guarantees or obligations for either the store or the author to enter into an Upstream partnership.

Link to an independent bookstore for the online sale of your books. Ask your local store if it has an affiliate or linking program and how you can join. Or link to IndieBound.org and tap into a national network of e-commerce sites.